CUBAN TRANSITIONS

On August 22nd of this year, 2012, China and Cuba will celebrate the 51st anniversary of their diplomatic ties. These celebrations are very important because Sino-Cuban relations continue being instrumental to Cuba’s socio-economic growth and stability. Cuba was the first Latin American country that established diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China on September 28th 1960.

China is Cuba’s second largest trading partner after Venezuela and Cuba is China’s top trading partner in the Caribbean. The Gran Melia Shanghai Hotel, a China-Cuba joint venture, went into operation in January 2010. “The pig and ox slaughter house in the Guantanamo Province of Cuba to be built with government assistance and Santiago port project contracted by the China Harbor Engineering Company will start soon. Cuban procurement of bulk cargo ship and broadcasting/TV transmitter was successfully launched and the 23rd China-Cuba joint economic committee meeting was convened in Cuba in December 2011”.(www.fmprc.org).

Today, Sino-Cuban relations are very instrumental especially developing Cuba’s tourism industry; an example was the tour bus that we used during our visit there. Trade between China and Cuba in 2005 alone totaled US$777 million, US$560 million being Chinese exports to Cuba; China exports durable goods to Cuba and is playing a vital role in the planned revitalization of Cuba’s transportation infrastructure and in the “Energy Revolution” of 2006 to provide electricity to the Cuban population.

The US is home to the major pharmaceutical companies in the world and owns several patents to innovative medical products and treatment. Given the limitations in research and medical publication exchange between the US and Cuba, the development of Chinese Herbal Medicine has contributed to Cuba’s directive to develop preventative medicine and herbal medication as well as the success of the Cuba’s healthcare system. Biotechnological research with China has also evolved from this relationship.

The educational sector has also benefited from this relationship as students from the two countries continue engaging in cultural exchange and educational experiences. As Adriana pointed out, “China offers the highest number of scholarships to Cuban students in university to go to China and learn Chinese language, herbal medicine, economics, engineering as well as other fields of study”.

In terms of investments, China is currently collaborating with Cuba in the areas of oil, nickel production and biotechnology. An example of this is the agreement between state- run Cubaníquel and Chinese-government owned Minmetals Corporation which will finance a project with a 51% – 49% ownership ratio respectively for the completion and operation of Las Camariocas nickel processing facility.

Sources

http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xwfw/s2510/2511/t907523.htm

http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zzjg/ldmzs/gjlb/3488/t17367.htm

“China Cuba ties report from Cuba Transition Project”, Havana Journal, June 2, 2006

Marc Frank, “Trade With China Primes Cuba’s Engine for Change”, The Financial Times, 29 March 2006

http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/ncta/pdfiles/ChengJnlColdWarStudiesArticle.pdf